New York truck driver told police he 'must have fallen asleep' before September crash.

A tractor-trailer driver from New York who told police he fell asleep and smashed into a stopped rig on Interstate 78 in Lower Saucon Township, killing the driver, has been criminally charged nearly seven months after the crash.

Homicide by vehicle charges were filed Friday against Richard David Pedota, 47, in the Sept. 2 crash that killed Mario Chacon, 52, of Palmer Township, state police at Belfast said.

The massive crash involved the two tractor-trailers and a car, injuring three people and sparking a massive fire. The crash and resulting fire, which destroyed one of the rigs, created huge traffic jams.

The crash happened just after 6:30 a.m. and Pedota, of Woodside, N.Y., told police he "must have fallen asleep," according to court records. Pedota could not be reached for comment.

Pedota was arraigned before District Judge David Tidd and released on $50,000 unsecured bail. Pedota is also charged with involuntary manslaughter, careless driving and other traffic violations.

The investigating trooper who filed the charges could not be reached for comment on the time needed to file criminal charges.

Chacon's wife, Cecilia DeLeon of Palmer, could not be reached for comment.

According to the affidavit:

A YRC Trucking tractor-trailer, driven by Pedota, was stuck under the rear bumper of another trailer when police arrived on the scene. Police said the YRC tractor-trailer hit a stopped rig, driven by Chacon.

There was no evidence of braking before the impact, police noted.

Chacon was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple blunt force trauma, and his injuries indicated he was outside his truck when he was hit.

Pedota hurt his head in the crash and was taken to St. Luke's Hospital-Fountain Hill. Later that morning, he spoke with police about the crash.

Pedota said he had left the YRC Trucking service center in Harrisburg and was heading east on I-78, driving in the right lane but woke up when he heard a crash.

Shortly after the crash, DeLeon described her husband of 22 years as a loving man who was in turn loved by his five children and four grandchildren.

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said it took time to file charges because his office had to pull together expert opinions, precise calculations, witness interviews, mechanical examinations of the vehicles and accident reconstruction reports.